Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20

recently. One told how she stumped her dainty
little toe when running up stairs last Tuesday, and
years time, not that she cared much, for she
was sure she disliked all mankind, selfish, merce-
nary. ugly creatures and would never marry. The
other told how sure she was that George called
night before last, because her pretty retrousse
nose 1tched violently just after she had dressed
for the evening; and although that usually means
stranger Is coming, goodness knows he was
| stranger enough, he hadn't been near her for a
week at least And SO they talked on. The car
went peacefully on Its way, stopping every now
and then to let somebody on or or, and the girls
Chartered and chartered In blissful unconscious
ness OF the smiles their ingenious remarks Gre
ated when overheard by some practical passenger
Of the masculine gender.
THEY LEAVE THE CAR.
Nor did they appear at all conscious of their sur
roundings until the conductor called out in STEM
| torian accents "NYork av'noochangecars14th
street." Then they gathered up their natty little
skirts, and showing each neat foot and ankle as
they got OF the car, trfpped over to the transfer
agent, got a transfer and passed away. No one
got on The car, and In few moments it started of
for Georgetown. Tine strange conduct OF the half
dozen or more passengers must have excited some
| little establishment along the street. Hardly had
the girls got out or hearing distance than a howl
OF laughter went up from The threats Of the male
passengers mingling with SLY filters from the pas
serve having been melted by that s'One touch OF
| nature which makes all mankind akin" anecdotes
and stories OF different superotitiOns. signs and
omens were passed about.
THE GAMBLERS sUPERsr1r1oNs
Meanwhile THE STAR man had adjourned to a
back seat, whereon sat callow youth, wearing a
| large-checkered gray suit, pink cross-bar shirt,
white collar and cuffs, red necktie with heavy gold
scarl-pin, yellow leather shoes, and having the
general appearance OF disciple of the green cloth.
"Talkin' bout superst1shun," said he, blowing a
cloud OF smoke from scent Reina Victoria, 'ff
yer wants to see Superstishun go down wild de
boys wat shoves de cards. Deys de most super
stishunus people In de world. Dey's got sign Tor
evry THU, an y yer KIN bet Yer socks that If de
signs agin EN- dey won't play. See?" He stopped
a moment to send stream OF spittle through the
side OF the car, In close proximity TO his compan-
wny Hnes ana dnem resumed In confidential
stunce. Suppose gam is down Oh his luck an
he sees hump BACK teller comm long. Will he
| tech hiin7 Won't he: Dat gam, as soon Us he
puts his peppers on dat hu;npy, viii side up to
hin. an Wen de teller aint lpJkin' neil teen dc
hump sure, an den so on an plunge wild his las nick.
shun Deys tried de racket often, an ev'ry time
mo- 1t works." Perceivirg that his remarks
(Which were made In rather loud tones) were ex-
the young sport resumed his discourse.
"'N Wen gam gets in game II youse puts yer
Dead straight bad luck! Sure! / never knowed it
ter fail" Another pause In which the speaker
chewed on the end OF his cigar and expelled it
from lis mouth with the force OF a pop-gun. "Did
yer never see, resumed he, "a teller cross his I'm
gers on de street am spit over dem? Nav? Well,
chips dat he's gam an has JUS seen a cross-eye
Wat d mean? wy dat he's met a teller wat has
his Two eyes crossed. OATS bad luck. Dere's de
dead mems baud superstishun. Dyer never
hear vi 1t? II sewn o. spades turns up first on
deal OATS watts called q dead mans ham, and 1t
means dat one OF de crowd will die soon. Dey
mus have lots OF de hans out weS'. But the sup
erstishun wat costs tin is dis; IL beggar sees
gam or some fel wat looks like on OF der proesh
an he gets 1t TOO. A real gam never refuses begg
no matter II he knows dat he's bein worked Ter u
sucker" The young mans style and the reckless
use he made OF his mouth were too much for the
reporter, who got of the car at the next crossing
When last seen the sport had directed his batter
les upon q girl in the Car, and Was "lnaShing."
SIGNS BELIEVED IN BY ACTORS.
It is astonishing what hold superstition has
upon the average American, and 1t may be safely
said that there is not one in a hundred who has
the force OF character and strength of mind TO un-
burden himself OF all such foolish notions. Among
gamblers superstition forms as much mart or d
professionals education as learning to deal cards.
and until he has all the 1Dnumerable superstitions
which prey On the minds OF his class al his finger
tips he cannot expect to rank as a real gam"
Actors, too, are among the most SuperStltiOuS
people on the face OF the globe. In no company
TO be spoken during the preliminary rehearsais
and II, on the night OF the nrsI performance, an
actor OF the company or an attache OF the theater
happens to lookout front to Sze up" the house be-
fore the curtain lsrung up he or She is for long
squabble with the manager or his assistant. In
less Intelligent companies this breach OF 'eti-
Quette" would cost the offender a good part OF the
salary that might be due him.
THE HOUSEWIVES.
Housewives have as many superstitions as gam
blerS, even more, and some OF them are really
laughable. In the country, II the back door hap
pens to be open and q rooster crows near it. the
industrious housewife who may be In the kitchen
securing her knives will drop them in a hurry and
run and get on her clean "duds." She considers 1t
sure sign that stranger IS coming. But should
that rooster turn his back on the open doorway
a1d go of Growing his action will send cold chill
mcandering up and down the spinal column Of the
housewife, for then she knows ''for certain"
hl n n a IN unity Dad 1,,nl1
will come II she sweeps dirt into her yard. It
must be taken up in the house and burned in the
stove. This superstition should be cultivated,
especially in cities. and more especially In such
a city as Washington. Other SuperstitiOns of the
same characUer-such as sweeping with a broom
OF night time or dumping crumbs in the yard
deserve universal commentator. But just let
hen crow in the yard OF some old, way-back
farmer. It will cause considerable coInmotton in
the family. From the infreouency Of this occur.
renee the belief In the minds OF many people that
1t rortells death is tneradtcable.
OTHER COMMON sUPERsrrr1oNs
There are many other superstitions that are not
common to any particular class, but find believers
In all ranks and every condition Of life Thus the
familiar verses
No knife shall cut our iH love si in two"
must have been founded On the old-time belief
that to present q knife to any person. and espe-
cially II he or she was loved by the donor would
bring bad luck. and in the case OF lovers separa-
ton. death ticks" and the sound as OF bells ring
ing in a house are cousins german OF the Irish
''Banshee" and the same direful consequences that
are supposed to attend the appearance OF the lat
ter will result in the former Instance supersti-
ton which finds believers among really Intelligent
people is that OF the "hOwling dog" II O dog
hOWls or means in front OF your house at night to
many people It Is q sure fOrerunner of sickness or
death In the family. The writer knows OF two in
stances where the moaning OF q dog at night In
front OF house was followed by death-that OF
the dog. Under the new police regulations It is
expected such fatalities Will be even more fire.
Quent.
THE NEW NOON.
When the time approaches for the new moon to
appear above the horizon, young men and girls
who are love stricken will hail il with feelings of
mingled hope and fear. II by any mischance they
should first see the new moon by looking over their
left shoulder then goodbye to all hopes of sue
cesSfu issue OF their Affairs during the life of that
moon. All are familiar with the lines: s.See the
new moon through the glass sign OF trouble while
It lasts" should the reader ever happen to leave
home and forget some bundle which he intended
TO have taksn, let him or her be sure to either
make the sign OF the cross In sand or else st upon
convenient horse block. Should they return
home without performing these rites to destroy
the power OF the evil one they are likely to suffer
some terr1ole calamity. TO open and close an UNI
brela In house Is q sure sign OF death. Perhaps
the man who flrSt said that II you enter a house
by one door and leave 1t by another or II you enter
by window, Y Will bring some evil consequences,
hoped to scare on burglars who mi0ht be con.
templat1ng raid on his silverware and decorated
china ANYHOW, 1t Is q common belief and one
which the law attempts to preserve Tor n a per-
son enters your house at night by window and